Friday, October 17, 2008

Parents Starved 14-Year-Old Girl to 48 Pounds

A 14-year-old girl in Carnation, Wash., was taken from her parents after they allegedly restricted her food and water intake and she became severely malnourished, KIRO TV reported Tuesday.The teenager weighed 48 pounds, as much as a 7- or 8-year-old, said Dan Donohoe of the King County Prosecutor’s Office.The girl's father, Jon Pomeroy, 43, and stepmother, Rebecca Long, 44, were charged with one count of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count of second-degree criminal mistreatment, Donohoe said. If convicted, they could face up to four years in prison.Pomeroy had restricted the girl's food and water, and she was severely malnourished when a deputy came to check on her in August, the sheriff’s office said.The 4-foot-7 girl was described as “extremely skinny and pale.” Her name was not released.The girl and her 12-year-old brother were removed from the home, and the girl was admitted to the Children’s Medical Center for two weeks.Dentists had to remove six of the girl's teeth because of long-term decay, court papers said.

A 14-year-old girl in Carnation, Wash., was taken from her parents after they allegedly restricted her food and water intake and she became severely malnourished, KIRO TV reported Tuesday.The teenager weighed 48 pounds, as much as a 7- or 8-year-old, said Dan Donohoe of the King County Prosecutor’s Office.The girl's father, Jon Pomeroy, 43, and stepmother, Rebecca Long, 44, were charged with one count of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count of second-degree criminal mistreatment, Donohoe said. If convicted, they could face up to four years in prison.Pomeroy had restricted the girl's food and water, and she was severely malnourished when a deputy came to check on her in August, the sheriff’s office said.The 4-foot-7 girl was described as “extremely skinny and pale.” Her name was not released.The girl and her 12-year-old brother were removed from the home, and the girl was admitted to the Children’s Medical Center for two weeks.Dentists had to remove six of the girl's teeth because of long-term decay, court papers said.